Impact of Animal-Assisted Treatment in Residential Care Facilities for Senior Citizens

Impact of Animal-Assisted Treatment in Residential Care Facilities for Senior Citizens

Pet Therapy Brings Multiple Benefits to Nursing Home Residents

Pet therapy, a growing practice in nursing homes worldwide, offers numerous advantages for the elderly population. This form of therapy aims to improve mental, emotional, physical, and social well-being.

Key benefits of pet therapy include:

1. Enhanced Mental and Emotional Health: Interaction with therapy animals reduces stress, anxiety, and depression, providing comfort, companionship, and emotional warmth. This is particularly valuable in often quiet or lonely environments [1][2][3].
2. Reduced Loneliness and Social Isolation: Pets offer companionship that helps ease feelings of loneliness, encouraging more social interaction among residents [2][3][5].
3. Physical Health Improvements: Pet therapy can motivate gentle physical activity like walking a dog or playing, which improves cardiovascular health, mobility, and motor skills maintenance. Physical contact with animals also helps lower blood pressure and cortisol levels while increasing serotonin and dopamine levels, contributing to relaxation and better heart health [1][3][4].
4. Cognitive Stimulation: Engagement with pets, such as remembering commands or interacting with therapy animals, stimulates memory and communication, which is valuable for seniors with dementia or Alzheimer’s [1][3].
5. Pain Management and Healing Support: Petting animals can release endorphins that help reduce pain and promote healing, useful for those recovering from surgery or managing chronic conditions [4].
6. Overall Comfort and Calming Presence: The presence of pets, especially therapy dogs and cats, brings a sense of calm and relaxation that benefits seniors emotionally and physically in nursing home settings [1][2][4][5].

In pet therapy sessions, carefully selected healthy and gentle dogs, cats, or even small animals like rabbits, guinea pigs, and other small animals, participate. Larger animals, such as horses, goats, or chickens, may also be used in some programs [6].

To ensure safety, nursing homes should establish clear guidelines and protocols for pet therapy sessions. These may include setting rules for where the animals can go, how long each session should last, and how many residents can participate at once. Staff members should also be trained on how to handle and care for animals and how to recognize and respond to any potential risks or hazards [7].

Nursing homes should conduct regular risk assessments to identify potential hazards or risks associated with pet therapy sessions. They should also have policies and procedures in place for handling any emergencies or incidents that may occur during these sessions [7].

Researchers have found that spending time with pets, like dogs and cats, can help make older folks in nursing homes feel happier and less lonely [8]. Even residents with allergies or phobias of animals can still benefit from pet therapy with proper planning and alternatives. Trained handlers or therapists should always be present during pet therapy sessions to guide interactions between residents and animals [9].

Pet therapy, or animal-assisted therapy (AAT), is a type of therapy that involves the use of animals to help people who are experiencing emotional or physical problems [10]. This practice is proving to be an effective, multi-faceted intervention to enhance the well-being of elderly individuals in nursing homes.

References:

[1] Cummings, J. N., & Nishida, K. I. (2014). The benefits of pet ownership for older adults: A review of the literature. Journal of Gerontological Nursing, 40(12), 18-26.

[2] Beetz, A., Hase, B., & Tellegen, A. (2002). Effects of petting a dog on cardiovascular and psychological parameters in healthy volunteers. Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, 71(1), 3-9.

[3] Hughes, J. P., Smyth, J. M., & Rook, M. J. (2012). A systematic review of the effects of animal-assisted therapy on anxiety, depression, and stress in adults. Journal of Clinical Psychology, 68(10), 1053-1070.

[4] Serpell, J. A. (1996). Affectionate bonds between humans and animals: The role of oxytocin. Psychoneuroendocrinology, 21(8), 749-760.

[5] Smith, J. A., & Johnson, W. B. (2017). The role of pet therapy in dementia care. Geriatrics, 72(11), 34-38.

[6] Kruger, M. (2011). Animal-assisted therapy: A review of the literature. Journal of Gerontological Nursing, 37(10), 14-23.

[7] American Veterinary Medical Association. (2019). Guidelines for animal-assisted therapy and activities. Retrieved from https://www.avma.org/resources/animal-welfare/animal-assisted-therapy-activities/guidelines-animal-assisted-therapy-activities

[8] Lund, M., & Lund, M. (2018). The impact of pet therapy on the well-being of older adults in residential care. Journal of Aging and Health, 30(3), 375-388.

[9] American Psychological Association. (2019). Animal-assisted therapy. Retrieved from https://www.apa.org/topics/animal-assisted-therapy

[10] McNab, A. (2004). Animal-assisted therapy: A review of the literature. International Journal of Psychosocial Rehabilitation, 9(3), 13-23.

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